Re: Changed a column type from "integer" to varchar

Hi,

If you're using 7.4 or below (I'm not sure if 7.5 is able to do this),
you'll end up writing the data first to a temporary table, as in (for
example):

SELECT * INTO TEMPORARY MyTable
FROM yourtable;

DROP TABLE yourtable;

CREATE TABLE yourtable (
/* with varchar stuff */
) WITH OIDS;

INSERT into yourtable
(
your field list
)
SELECT
cast(anumber as varchar(20)),
etc,
from MyTable;

Drop MyTable;

Regards,

Arthur

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:14:33 -0400, Ying Lu <ying_lu(at)cs(dot)concordia(dot)ca> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a question about alter a column's type in a postgreSQL table.
>
> For example, I have 10, 000 records in a table name "test", I'd like to
> change column "machineID" type from integer to varchar. I am looking for
> something like:
>
> alter table test alter column machineID ... ... varchar
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
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